CFB Handicapping: Ohio Bobcats vs Bowling Green Falcons
Ohio is enjoying yet another good season under quality coach Frank Solich. The Bobcats are currently in first in the MAC East with a 4-2 record, controlling their own destiny with just a couple of games left on the schedule.
Perry Stadium – Bowling Green, Ohio
Wednesday November 16 – 8:00PM
Moneyline: Ohio -260, Bowling Green +220
Spread (ATS): Ohio -7
Over/Under: 57.5
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
Ohio
The key was beating Temple a couple of weeks ago but they need to continue to play well down the stretch to play in the MAC championship game as teams are nipping at their heels.
Usually Ohio is all about the ground game on offense but this year they are more balanced than they have ever been with QB Tyler Tettleton leading an attack that is 18th in the country in yards. The key to getting the passing game going was the return to freshman form of LaVon Brazill. Last year was a writeoff but this year he is among the MAC leaders. He can rip off big chunks in the passing game and is third in TDs in MAC play.
Ohio has won three of their last 4 against Bowling Green. In each of the wins they have scored 38 points or more which shouldn’t be too much of a problem against a defense ranked 76th in the nation in points allowed. It looks like Ohio is peaking at the right time and with still much to play for they should be plenty motivated for this contest.
Bowling Green
The Bowling Green Falcons were supposed to be competitive this year after falling off the map in 2010. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Instead they need to sweep their final two just to get bowl eligible. This team was 3-1 and looking good but after getting hammered by West Virginia they just never got off the mat. Interestingly they handed Temple a loss that nobody saw coming…so you never know.
Bowling Green QB Matt Schilz has the second highest passer rating in the conference…yet the Falcons struggle to score points. You can’t blame the running game with Anthon Samuel leading the conference in yards per carry. You see the Falcons are a bit of a conundrum. They just seem to lack that special something that is the difference between winning and losing.
That is the thing that makes this team especially tough to back. With little to play for will they take some pride in their work and try to trash Ohio’s season? Or will they lose by double digits for the third game in a row. The home team is just 1-4 SU of late in this series and the Falcons have struggled at home this season posting only a 2-3 record.
ATS Pick: Ohio -7
Over/Under Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Ohio 31 – Bowling Green 17
